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United States Patent |
5,104,104
|
Mol
|
April 14, 1992
|
Web processing apparatus
Abstract
Apparatus for processing an elongate portion of a web of sheets, wherein
the web portion includes a plurality of uniformly dimensioned successive
sheets bordered by an elongate marginal edge having a plurality of
sprocket holes formed therein at equal intervals along its length, the
apparatus comprising: structure for guiding the web portion in a
downstream path of travel, the guiding structure including a pair of
spaced apart idler rollers and a timing belt endlessly looped about the
rollers, the belt including a plurality of sprockets extending outwardly
therefrom at said equal intervals, the belt including a belt run aligned
with the path of travel, the web portion sprocket holes disposed in
meshing engagement with the belt run sprockets for guiding the web portion
in the path of travel; and structure downstream from the guiding structure
for feeding the web portion downstream in the path of travel against an
upstream force exerted thereagainst by the guiding structure.
Inventors:
|
Mol; Hans C. (Wilton, CT)
|
Assignee:
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Pitney Bowes Inc. (Stamford, CT)
|
Appl. No.:
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629958 |
Filed:
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December 19, 1990 |
Current U.S. Class: |
270/52.08; 270/52.12 |
Intern'l Class: |
B65H 041/00 |
Field of Search: |
270/18,19,21.1,41,52,52.5
226/2,74,172
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3556509 | Jan., 1971 | Crum | 270/52.
|
4118022 | Oct., 1978 | Rayfield | 270/52.
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4179107 | Dec., 1979 | Harris | 270/52.
|
4577789 | Mar., 1986 | Hofmann | 270/52.
|
4593893 | Jun., 1986 | Suter | 270/52.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
2435049 | Feb., 1975 | DE | 270/52.
|
2383872 | Nov., 1978 | FR | 270/52.
|
81054 | May., 1982 | JP | 270/52.
|
Primary Examiner: Look; Edward K.
Assistant Examiner: Newholm; Therese M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Walker; Donald P., Scolnick; Melvin J., Pitchenik; David E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for processing an elongate portion of a web of sheets, wherein
the web portion includes a plurality of uniformly dimensioned successive
sheets bordered by an elongate marginal edge having a plurality of
sprocket holes formed therein at equal intervals along its length, the
apparatus comprising:
a. means for guiding the web portion in a downstream path of travel, the
guiding means including a pair of spaced apart idler rollers and a timing
belt endlessly looped about the rollers, the belt including a plurality of
sprockets extending outwardly therefrom at said equal intervals, the belt
including a belt run aligned with the path of travel, the web portion
sprocket holes disposed in meshing engagement with the belt run sprockets
for guiding the web portion in the path of travel; and
b. means downstream from the guiding means for feeding the web portion
downstream in the path of travel against an upstream force exerted
thereagainst by the guiding means.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web portion has a
predetermined width, and the feeding means including a pair of elongate
feed rollers extending transverse to the path of travel and defining a nip
therebetween which extends across the width of the web portion.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 including means for driving one of
the feed rollers.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means downstream from the
feeding means for progressively separating the marginal edge from the web
portion.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means downstream from the
feeding means for successively separating sheets from the web portion.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for controlling the
feeding means, and the controlling means including means for
intermittently feeding the web portion.
7. The apparatus according to claim 2 including means for opening and
closing the nip.
8. The apparatus according to claim 4 including means for successively
cutting each sheet from the web portion after the marginal edge is
separated from said sheet.
9. The apparatus according to claim 2 including means for controlling the
feeding means, the controlling means including a microprocessor, and the
controlling means including an encoder connected to one of the idler
rollers for providing successive signals to the microprocessor
corresponding to successive increments of linear displacement of the web
portion.
10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the feed rollers is
a drive roller and the other feed roller is a driven roller, and the
feeding means including means for raising and lowering one of the feed
rollers.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 including means for intermittently
moving one of the feed rollers into and out of engagement with the web
portion.
12. The apparatus according to claim 9 including means downstream from the
feeding means for cutting successive sheets from the web portion, and the
controlling means including means for causing the cutting means to cut the
successive sheets from the web portion in accordance with the successive
signals.
13. Apparatus for processing an elongate web of sheets, wherein the web
comprises a pair of elongate marginal edges which each include sprocket
holes formed therein at equal intervals lengthwise thereof, wherein the
web comprises first and second elongate web portions which each include a
plurality of successive sheets bordered by one of the marginal edges, the
apparatus comprising:
a. means for separating the web portions from the web;
b. means for guiding the web portions, the guiding means including a first
belt endlessly looped about a first pair of idler rollers, the guiding
means including a second belt endlessly looped about a second pair of
idler rollers, the first and second belts each including a plurality
sprockets extending therefrom at said equal intervals lengthwise of the
belt; and
c. means for feeding the web portions from the guiding means, the feeding
means including first means for feeding the first web portion downstream
in a first path of travel wherein marginal edge sprocket holes thereof are
disposed in engagement with sprockets of the first belt, and the feeding
means including second means for feeding the second web portion downstream
in a second path of travel wherein marginal edge sprocket holes thereof
are disposed in engagement with sprockets of the second belt.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 including a first encoder connected
to one of the first pair of idler rollers for providing successive signals
corresponding to successive increments of linear displacement of the first
web portion.
15. The apparatus according to claim 13 including a second encoder
connected to one of the second pair of idler rollers for providing
successive signals corresponding to successive increments of linear
displacement of the second web portion.
16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first feeding means
includes a pair of elongate third rollers extending transverse to the
first path of travel downstream from the first belt.
17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second feeding means
includes a pair of elongate third rollers extending transverse to the
second path of travel downstream from the second belt.
18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the separating means
includes means for lengthwise cutting the web for separating the web
portions.
19. The apparatus according to claim 13 including means downstream from the
feeding means for cutting successive sheets from the respective web
portions.
20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein one of the third rollers
is a drive roller and the other third rollers is a driven roller, and the
first feeding means including means for raising and lowering one of the
third rollers.
21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein one of the third rollers
is a drive roller and one of the third rollers is a driven roller, and the
second feeding means including means for raising and lowering one of the
third rollers.
22. The apparatus according to claim 16, including means for intermittently
moving one of the third rollers into and out of engagement with the first
web portion.
23. The apparatus according to claim 17 including means for intermittently
moving one of the third rollers into and out of engagement with the second
web portion.
24. Apparatus for processing elongate first and second portions of a web of
sheets, wherein each of the web portions includes an elongate marginal
edge bordering a plurality of successive sheets, and each of the marginal
edges includes a plurality of sprocket holes formed therein at equal
intervals along the length thereof, the apparatus comprising:
a. means for independently guiding the first and second web portions in
first and second paths of travel respectively, the guiding means including
a first endless idler belt having a plurality of first sprockets extending
outwardly therefrom, the first belt including a first belt run aligned
with the first path of travel, the guiding means including a second
endless idler belt having a plurality of second sprockets extending
outwardly therefrom, the second belt including a second belt run aligned
with the second path of travel, the marginal edge sprocket holes of the
first web portions disposed in meshing engagement with first belt run
sprockets for guiding the first web portion in the first path of travel,
the marginal edge sprocket holes of the second web portion disposed in
meshing engagement with second belt run sprockets for guiding the second
belt portion in the second path of travel; and
b. means downstream from the web portions guiding means for independently
feeding the first and second web portions in the first and second paths of
travel respectively.
25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the feeding means feeds
the first and second web portions downstream in the respective first and
second paths of travel against upstream forces respectively exerted by the
first and second belts.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is generally concerned with web processing apparatus and
more particularly with apparatus for processing elongate portions of a web
of coded sheet.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,893 for a Method And Apparatus for
Sequentially Advancing And Cutting Forms From Two Continuous Web Forms,
issued June 10, 1986 to Walter Suter, apparatus has been provided for
processing overlapped portions of a web of coded sheets, wherein each of
the web portions includes a single marginal edge having sprocket holes
formed therein, utilizing tractor structure which engages the sprocket
holes of the marginal edge of each web portion for independently advancing
the web portions on a table to cutting structure, cutting the web
portions, and sorting the sheets cut from the web in accordance with the
codes marked thereon.
Thus it is known in the art to provide tractor structures for independently
feeding separated portions of a web of coded sheets downstream in
overlapped paths of travel to cutting structure, cutting the sheets from
the web and sorting the cut sheets in accordance with their codes.
However, it has been found that rapidly accelerating and decelerating a
web portion solely by means of tractor structure which engages only one
marginal edge, results in the tractor structure having a tendency to tear
the sprocket holes. Moreover, when the marginal edge is defined by a
perforate line formed in the web portion, the tractor structure tends to
separate the marginal edge from the web portion.
Accordingly:
An object of the invention is to provide improved web processing apparatus;
Another object is to utilize tractor structures for aligning separated web
portions of a web of sheets;
Another object is to provide improved apparatus for processing a web of
coded sheets, including structure for feeding separated portions of the
length of the web in engagement with tractor structure for guiding the web
portions in separate paths of travel; and
Yet another object is to provide apparatus for feeding an elongate portion
of a web of sheets downstream in a path of travel from guiding means,
against the upstream force exerted by the guiding means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus for processing an elongate portion of a web of sheets, wherein
the web portion includes a plurality of uniformly dimensioned successive
sheets bordered by an elongate marginal edge having a plurality of
sprocket holes formed therein at equal intervals along its length, the
apparatus comprising: means for guiding the web portion in a downstream
path of travel, the guiding means including a pair of spaced apart idler
rollers and a timing belt endlessly looped about the rollers, the belt
including a plurality of sprockets extending outwardly therefrom at said
equal intervals, the belt including a belt run aligned with the path of
travel, the web portion sprocket holes disposed in meshing engagement with
the belt run sprockets for guiding the web portion in the path of travel;
and means downstream from the guiding means for feeding the web portion
downstream in the path of travel against an upstream force exerted
thereagainst by the guiding means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As shown in the drawings wherein like references numerals designate like or
corresponding parts throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a typical web of sheets; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of web processing apparatus
according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1, an elongate web 10, of the type which may be processed
in accordance with the invention, generally comprises an elongate web of
paper having opposed, longitudinally-extending, side edges 12. The web 10
comprises two longitudinally-extending, parallel-spaced, web portions, 14A
and 14B, each of which includes a plurality of successive, uniformly
dimensioned, sheets 16 defined therein. For discussion purposes, the
sheets 16 are shown to be serially defined in the web 10 by means of a
pair of parallel-spaced, longitudinally-extending, perforate side lines
18, by means of a longitudinally-extending perforate center line 20
located substantially midway between the side lines 18, and by means of a
plurality of transversely-extending, parallel-spaced, perforate lines 22,
located at equal intervals longitudinally of the length of the web 10. The
side edges 12 and perforate side lines 18 additionally define a pair of
parallel-spaced marginal edges 24, each of which has a plurality of
sprocket holes 26 formed therein at equal intervals longitudinally of its
length. And, each adjacent pair of the transverse perforate lines 22
defines a pair of opposed portions 28 of the marginal edges 24, each of
which borders a sheet 16 of one of the web portions, 14A or 14B. Thus each
of the elongate web portions, 14A or 14B, includes a plurality of
successive sheets 16 and a single marginal edge 24 which includes a
portion 28 thereof bordering each sheet 16 of the web portion, 14A or 14B.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is noted that perforate side lines 18
(FIG. 1) are not typically provided. Moreover, without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention, rather than perforate lines, 18 or 20,
the lines 18 or 20 may be marked on the web 10. Moreover, each of the
sheets preferably includes a sheet processing code 32 marked thereon or on
the marginal edge portion 28 bordering each sheet 16.
As shown in FIG. 2, according to the invention there is provided apparatus
40 for processing a web 10 of coded sheets 16. The sheet processing
apparatus 40 generally includes any conventional structure 42 for
separating the elongate web portions, 14A and 14B, from each other along
the center line 20 extending lengthwise of the web 10. The separating
structure 42 preferably includes stand-alone web feeding and cutting
structure 44 comprising a web feeding module 46 supported by a pair of
upright, parallel-spaced, legs 48, and a shelf 50 laterally extending from
the legs 48 for supporting the web 10 in a fan-folded stack 52. The web
feeding module 46 includes a conventional, horizontally-extending, cutting
table 54. And, the web feeding and cutting structure 44 includes a pair of
conventional, opposed, rotatable, cutting members 56, defining a web
cutting nip 58 therebetween, which is located at the level of the cutting
table 54. The cutting members 56 are suitably rotatably connected to the
feeding module 46, as by means a pair of parallel-spaced shafts 60, one of
which is shown, for disposition in cutting relationship with the
centerline 20 of the web 10. In addition, the web feeding module 46
includes conventional structure 62 for controlling the module 46, for
intermittently feeding the web 10 upwardly from the fan-folded stack 52
and then across the cutting table 54, where the web 10 is fed into the web
cutting nip 58 between the cutting members 56 to separate the elongate web
portions, 14A and 14B, from the web 10, and for intermittently feeding the
web portions, 14A and 14B, from the feeding module 46 for further
processing.
Downstream from the web feeding and cutting structure 44 (FIG. 2), the web
processing apparatus 40 preferably includes structure 70 for guiding the
separated web portions, 14A and 14B, in separate, horizontally-extending,
overlapping, parallel-spaced, downstream paths of travel, 72 and 74. The
guiding structure 70 includes conventional framework 76 for supporting the
various components thereof and includes at least one, and preferably a
plurality of, such as two, tractor structures 78 for guiding the web
portion 14A in the path of travel 72, and tractor structures 80 for
guiding the web portion 14B in the path of travel 74.
The tractor structures 78 (FIG. 2) each include a timing gear belt 86 which
is endlessly looped about a pair of upstream and downstream idler pulley
gear rollers, 88 and 90. And, each pair of idler rollers, 88 and 90, is
conventionally mounted for rotation on a pair of parallel-spaced idler
shafts 92 which are conventionally rotatably connected to the framework
76. Each of the timing belts 86 includes a plurality of sprockets 94
outwardly protruding therefrom at equally spaced intervals, longitudinally
of the length thereof, which correspond to the spacing between the
sprocket holes 26 (FIG. 1) formed in the marginal edges 28 of the web 10.
In addition, each of the timing belts 86 (FIG. 2) includes a
horizontally-extending belt run 96, which is aligned with the path of
travel 72. And the marginal edge 28 of the web portion 14A is disposed in
meshing engagement with the belt runs 96, i.e., the marginal edge sprocket
holes 26 are disposed in meshing engagement with the belt run sprockets
94, for aligning the web portion 14A in the path of travel 72. Moreover,
each of the idler shafts 92 has mounted thereon an idler roller 98 for
supporting the web portion 14A, alongside of the edge 100 of the web
portion 14A which is opposite the marginal edge 28 thereof, in the path of
travel 72.
The tractor structures 80 (FIG. 2) each include a timing gear belt 110
which is endlessly looped about a pair of upstream and downstream idler
pulley gear rollers, 112 and 114. And, each pair of idler rollers, 112 and
114, is conventionally mounted for rotation on a pair of parallel-spaced
idler shafts 116 which are conventionally rotatably connected to the
framework 76. Each of the timing belts 110 includes a plurality of
sprockets 118 outwardly protruding therefrom at equally spaced intervals,
longitudinally of the length thereof, which correspond to the spacing
between the sprocket holes 26 (FIG. 1) formed in the marginal edges 28 of
the web 10. In addition, each of the timing belts 110 (FIG. 2) includes a
horizontally-extending belt run 120, which is aligned with the path of
travel 74. And the marginal edge 28 of the web portion 14B is disposed in
meshing engagement with each of the belt runs 120, i.e., the marginal edge
sprocket holes 26 are disposed in meshing engagement with the belt run
sprockets 118, for aligning the web portion 14B in the path of travel 74.
Moreover, each of the idler shafts 116 has mounted thereon an idler roller
122 for supporting the web portion 14B, alongside of the edge 124 of the
web portion 14B which is opposite the marginal edge 28 thereof, in the
path of travel 74.
Downstream from the web guiding structure 70 (FIG. 2) the web processing
apparatus 40 preferably includes structure 130 for independently feeding
the separated web portions, 14A and 14B, in their respective,
horizontally-extending, overlapping, parallel-spaced, downstream paths of
travel, 72 and 74. The web portions feeding structure 130 includes the
conventional framework 76 for supporting the various components thereof
and includes separate feed roller structures, 132 and 134, for
intermittently engaging and feeding the respective web portions, 14A and
14B, downstream against respective upstream forces, 136 and 138, exerted
thereagainst by the respective tractor structures, 78 and 80.
The feed roller structure 132 (FIG. 2) includes a pair of elongate,
parallel-spaced, upper and lower feed rollers, 146 and 148, which are
rotatably attached to the framework 76 so as to extend transverse to the
path of travel 72 of the web portion 14A and to define therebetween an
elongate nip 150, for receiving the web portion 14A. The nip 150 spans the
entire transverse width dimension "d.sub.1 " of the web portion 14A. The
lower roller 148 is preferably rotatably attached to the framework 76 by
means of an elongate idler shaft 152, on which the lower roller 148 is
coaxially mounted and which is conventionally journaled to the framework
76 for axial rotation. To prevent the web portion 14A from being laterally
moved out of the path of travel 72 by the feed rollers, 146 and 148, the
upper roller 146 is preferably rotatably attached to the framework 76 by
means of an elongate shaft 154, on which the upper roller 146 is coaxially
mounted and which is eccentrically rotatable relative to the framework 76
by means of opposed collar members 156 conventionally rotatably connected
to the framework 76, to permit opening and closing the nip 150. Thus, the
upper roller 146 is both axially and eccentrically rotatable, whereby the
upper roller 146 may be intermittently raised and lowered relative to the
lower roller 148 for moving the upper rollers 146 into and out of feeding
engagement with the web portion 14A.
For axially rotating the shaft 154 (FIG. 2) within the collar members 156,
the feed roller structure 132 includes a pair of timing pulley gears 158
coaxially connected to opposite ends of the shaft 154. And, for driving
the timing pulley gears 158, the feed roller structure 132 includes a
suitable d.c. motor 160, which is conventionally connected to the
framework 76, an elongate output drive shaft 162 driven by the motor 160,
a pair of timing pulley gears 164 which are spaced apart from one another
and coaxially mounted on the drive shaft 162 so as to be disposed in
alignment with the timing pulley gears 158, and a pair of timing gear
belts 166 which are respectively endlessly looped about and disposed in
meshing engagement with one of each of the timing pulley gears, 158 and
164. To facilitate eccentric movement of the upper roller 146 relative to
the lower roller 148, the feed roller structure 132 may optionally
includes a pair of belt tensioning pulley gears 168 disposed in meshing
engagement with the respective belts 166, and a pair of tension springs
170 which each have one end conventionally connected to the framework 76
and the other end conventionally connected to one of the belt tensioning
pulley gears 168. In this connection, it is noted that since the nip 150
between the upper and lower rollers 146 and 148 need be opened merely
three to ten thousandths of an inch to permit moving the upper roller 146
out of feeding engagement with the thickest stock of paper from which the
web portion 14A is fabricated, the tensioning pulley gears 168 and springs
170 are not ordinarily needed.
Moreover, for eccentrically rotating the upper roller 146 (FIG. 2), the
feed roller structure 132 includes a timing pulley gear 172, which is
conventionally connected by means of a shaft 174 to one of the collar
members 156 for eccentric rotation thereof. And, for driving the timing
pulley gear 172, the feed roller structure 132 includes a suitable d.c.
motor 176, which is conventionally connected to the framework 76, an
output drive shaft 178 driven by the motor 176, a timing pulley gear 180
coaxially mounted on the shaft 178 so as to be disposed in alignment with
the timing pulley gear 172, and a timing gear belt 182 which is endlessly
looped about the timing pulley gears, 172 and 180.
The feed roller structure 134 (FIG. 2) includes a pair of elongate,
parallel-spaced, upper and lower feed rollers, 190 and 192, which are
rotatably attached to the framework 76 so as to extend transverse to the
path of travel 74 of the web portion 14B and to define therebetween an
elongate nip 194, for receiving the web portion 14B. The nip 194 spans the
entire transverse width dimension "d.sub.2 " of the web portion 14B. The
lower roller 192 is preferably rotatably attached to the framework 76 by
means of an elongate idler shaft 196, on which the lower roller 192 is
coaxially mounted and which is conventionally journaled to the framework
76 for axial rotation. To prevent the web portion 14B from being laterally
moved out of the path of travel 74 by the feed rollers, 190 and 192, the
upper roller 190 is preferably rotatably attached to the framework 76 by
means of an elongate shaft 198, on which the upper roller 190 is coaxially
mounted and which is eccentrically rotatable relative to the framework 76
by means of opposed collar members 200 conventionally rotatably connected
to the framework 76, to permit opening and closing the nip 194. Thus, the
upper roller 190 is both axially and eccentrically rotatable whereby the
upper roller 190 may be intermittently raised and lowered relative to the
lower roller 192 for moving the upper roller into and out of feeding
engagement with the web portion 14B.
For axially rotating the shaft 198 (FIG. 2) within the collar members 200,
the feed roller structure 134 includes a pair of timing pulley gears 202
coaxially connected to opposite ends of the shaft 198. And, for driving
the timing pulley gears 202, the feed roller structure 134 includes a
suitable d.c. motor 204, which is conventionally connected to the
framework 76, an elongate output drive shaft 206 driven by the motor 204,
a pair of timing pulley gears 208 which are spaced apart from one another
and coaxially mounted on the drive shaft 206 so as to be disposed in
alignment with the timing pulley gears 202, and a pair of timing gear
belts 210 which are respectively endlessly looped about and disposed in
meshing engagement with one of each of the timing pulley gears, 202 and
208. To facilitate eccentric movement of the upper roller 190 relative to
the lower roller 192, the feed roller structure 132 may optionally
include, a pair of belt tensioning pulley gears 212 disposed in meshing
engagement with the respective gear belts 210, and a pair of tension
springs 214 which each have one end conventionally connected to the
framework 76 and the other end conventionally connected to one of the belt
tensioning pulley gears 212. In this connection it is noted that since the
nip 194 between the upper and lower rollers, 190 and 192, need be opened
merely three to ten thousandth of an inch to permit moving the upper
rollers 190 out of feeding engagement with the thickest stock of paper
from which the, web portion 14B is fabricated, the tensioning pulley gears
212 and springs 214 are not ordinarily needed.
Moreover, for eccentrically rotating the upper roller 202 (FIG. 2), the
feed roller structure 134 includes a timing pulley gear 220, which is
conventionally connected by means of a shaft 222 to one of the collar
members 200 for eccentric rotation thereof. And, for driving the timing
pulley gear 220, the feed roller structure 134 includes a suitable d.c.
motor 224, which is conventionally connected to the framework 76, an
output drive shaft 226 driven by the motor 224, a timing pulley gear 228
coaxially mounted on the shaft 226 so as to be disposed in alignment with
the timing pulley gear 220, and a timing gear belt 230 which is endlessly
looped about the timing pulley gears, 220 and 228.
Downstream from the web portions feeding structure 130 (FIG. 2), the web
processing apparatus 40 preferably includes structure 240 for separating
the marginal edges 28 from the web portions, 14A and 14B. The edge
separation structure 240 may include any conventional structure for
performing the separation function. Preferably for separating the marginal
edge 28 from the web portion 14A, there is provided a suitable pair of
parallel-spaced guide rollers 242, which are conventionally rotatably
connected to the framework 76 by means of an idler shaft 244 for
disposition of the rollers 242 in overhanging relationship with the web
portion 14A, alongside of the opposed edges, 12 and 100. And, there is
provided a suitable cutting member 246, which is conventionally rotatably
connected to the framework 76 by means of an idler shaft 248 for
disposition in alignment with one of the rollers 242, beneath the web
portion 14A and in cutting relationship with the elongate perforate line,
or mark, 18 defining the marginal edge 28. Moreover, for separating the
marginal edge 28 from the web portion 14B there is provided a suitable
pair of parallel-spaced spaced guide rollers 252, which are conventionally
rotatably connected to the framework 76 by means of an idler shaft 254 for
disposition of the rollers 252 in supporting relationship with the web
portion 14B, alongside of the opposed edges, 12 and 100. And, there is
provided a suitable cutting member 256, which is conventionally rotatably
connected to the framework 76 by means of an idler shaft 258 for
disposition in alignment with one of the rollers 252, above the web
portion 14B and in cutting relationship with elongate perforate line, or
mark, 18 defining the marginal edge 28.
Further, downstream from the marginal edge separating structure 240 (FIG.
2), the web processing apparatus 40 includes conventional structure 260
for individually separating successive sheets from the web portions, 14A
and 14B, including, for example, two pairs of input feed rollers 262, for
respectively independently feeding the web portions, 14A and 14B, from the
marginal edge separating structure 240, a pair of opposed and reciprocally
movable cutting knives 264, for independently successively cutting
respective successive sheets 16 from either or both of the respective web
portions, 14A and 14B, a pair of output feed rollers 266 for feeding
respective sheets 16 from the sheet separating structure 260, and thus
from the sheet processing apparatus 40, and, suitable structure 268 for
controlling the various components 262, 264 and 266 of the sheet
separating structure 260.
In addition, there is provided conventional structure 280 (FIG. 2) for
controlling the web processing apparatus 40 including, for example, a
conventional microprocessor 282, and a plurality of power amplifiers, 284,
286, 288 and 290 for respectively interfacing the motors 160, 176, 204 and
224 with the microprocessor 282. In addition, the control structure 280
includes a conventional encoder 292, which is suitably connected to the
microprocessor 292 and to one of the idler shafts 92 of the tractor
structure 78, for providing signals, such as the signal 294, to the
microprocessor 282 which correspond to respective increments of linear
displacement of the web portion 14A as the web portion 14A is fed
downstream in the path of travel 72. Moreover, the control structure 280
includes a conventional encoder 296, which is suitably connected to the
microprocessor 292 and to one of the idler shafts 116 of the tractor
structure 80, for providing signals, such as the signal 298, to the
microprocessor 292 which correspond to respective increments of linear
displacement of the web portion 14B as the web portion 14B is fed
downstream in the path of travel 74. In addition, the control structure
280 is conventionally connected in serial or parallel communication with
the web portions separating structure 42 and with the sheet separating
structure 260, for control thereof from the microprocessor 282. Still
further, the control structure 280 includes a pair of conventional sensing
structures, 300 and 302 which are respectively suitably connected to the
framework 76 for disposition in code sensing relationship with the codes
32 (FIG. 1) marked on either the respective marginal edges 28 or sheets 16
of the web portions, 14A and 14B, for providing suitable signals, such as
the signals, 304 and 306, which correspond to the respective codes 32 to
the microprocessor 282. Moreover, the microprocessor 282 is conventionally
programmed for calculating the linear distance between successive sheets
16, based upon said web portion displacement signals, 294 and 298.
Further, the microprocessor 282 is conventionally programmed to cause the
web portions separation structure 42, web portions feeding structure 130
and sheet cutting structure 260 to respectively timely feed the web 10,
independently timely feed web portions, 14A and 14B, and independently
timely cut sheets 16 from either or both of the web portions, 14A and 14B,
in accordance with the calculations of the linear distance between
successive sheets 16, and thus in accordance with the displacement
signals, 294 and 298, and in accordance with the codes 32 on the marginal
edges 28, or sheets 16 of the web portions, 14A and 14B, and in accordance
with conventional operator input from a suitable keyboard 310 which is
conventionally connected in serial or parallel communication with the
microprocessor 282.
In accordance with the objects of the invention there has been described
improved apparatus for processing a web of coded sheets, including
structure for feeding separated portions of the length of the web in
engagement with tractor structure for guiding the web portions in separate
paths of travel.
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